FC Barcelona has had a good start to the season despite the restrictions that have prevented major moves in the transfer market. Joan Laporta, aware of the club's financial situation, has only been able to acquire two players: Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. Even so, FC Barcelona has maintained a good level on the field, which has caused optimism among the fans.
However, behind this good start, Joan Laporta is carrying the weight of regret: Out of financial reasons, the Barça president let a transfer slip away for just 4 million euros that would've contributed a lot to the Barça offensive line. In his attempt to balance the accounting books, Laporta decided not to go for this transfer, which was a mistake that now weighs on his shoulders after witnessing his great performances first-hand.
Joan Laporta Regrets it as He's leaving for the Premier League: Farewell to Barça for Just 4 Million
For months, Joan Laporta has been persistently looking for a top-level attacking reinforcement for FC Barcelona's offense. Big names like Nico Williams and Rafael Leao were mentioned, but more affordable and less known options like Jaden Philogene and Ayoze Pérez also appeared. In the end, as we've already said, only Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor ended up wearing the Barça jersey.
Joan Laporta was fully aware that he couldn't afford to transfer stars, as they were out of Barça's financial reach. However, Ayoze represented a more realistic option due to his low cost (Betis sold him to Villarreal for just 4 million euros) and his versatility in offense. Despite this, Laporta made the decision to let the opportunity slip, although he now regrets it.
Joan Laporta Says Farewell to Ayoze for Good: the Premier League is Struggling to Get His Transfer
Ayoze has shown this season that signing for Barça would've been a resounding success for Joan Laporta. With 6 goals in just 7 games, the Canary Islander has been one of the great revelations of LaLiga. In fact, his goalscoring record allows him to place second in the race for the top scorer, led by Lewandowski.
Joan Laporta, who ruled out transferring him for incomprehensible reasons last season, now deeply regrets that decision, as the opportunity to sign Ayoze has vanished. His ability to adapt to different roles in offense and his goal-scoring instinct have sparked the interest of Lopetegui's West Ham, who dream of transfering him. Therefore, Barça can now say farewell for good.
With Ayoze in West Ham's sights, Joan Laporta has run out of options and no ability to respond. Now, the Canary Islander's price has risen considerably and his departure to the Premier League seems imminent, definitively closing the door to signing for Barça.